In what ways can spiritual practices affect the health status of clients?

What is the relationship between faith, hope, and spiritual well-being?

Spirituality and faith bring hope. When a person has the attitude of something to live for and look forward to, hope is present. It is a multidimensional concept that provides comfort while people endure life-threatening situations, hardships, and other personal challenges.

How can a client gain spiritual health?

People gain spiritual health by finding a balance between their values, goals, and beliefs and their relationships within themselves and others.

Describe ways a client can experience spiritual distress.

Spiritual distress causes a person to feel doubt, loss of faith, and a sense of being alone or abandoned. Individuals often question their spiritual values, raising questions about their way of life, purpose for living, and source of meaning. Spiritual distress also occurs when there is conflict between a person's beliefs and prescribed health regimens or the inability to practice usual rituals.

What questions can a nurse ask when assessing spirituality?

Spirituality and Spiritual Health

 What gives you energy during difficult times?

 Which aspects of your spirituality have been most helpful to you?

 Which aspects of your spirituality would you like to discuss?

Faith, Belief, Fellowship, and Community

 To what or whom do you look as a source of strength, hope, or faith in times of difficulty?

 How does your faith help you cope?

 Do you use prayer?

 What can I do to support your religious beliefs or faith commitment?

 What gives your life meaning?

Life and Self-Responsibility

 How do you feel about the changes this illness has caused?

 How do these changes affect what you now need to do?

Life Satisfaction

 How happy or satisfied are you with your life?

 What accomplishments help you feel satisfied with your life?

Connectedness

 What feelings do you have after you pray?

 Who do you feel is the most important person in your life?

Vocation

 How has your illness affected the way you live your life spiritually at home or where you work?

 In what way has your illness affected your ability to express what is important in life to you?

Be able to identify different religious beliefs about health.

Hinduism:

Accepts modern medical science

Past sins cause illness. Prolonging life is discouraged.

Allow time for prayer and purity rituals. Allow use of amulets, rituals, and symbols

Sikhism:

Accepts modern medical science

Females are to be examined by females. Removing undergarments causes great distress.

Provide time for devotional prayer. Allow use of religious symbols.

Buddhism:

Accepts modern medical science

Followers sometimes refuse treatment on Holy Days. Nonhuman spirits invading the body cause illness. Sometimes followers want a Buddhist priest. They usually accept death as last stage of life and usually permit withdrawal of life support. Followers do not practice euthanasia. They often do not take time off from work or family responsibilities when sick.

Health is an important part of life. Good health is maintained by caring for self and others. Medications are not always accepted because of belief that chemical substances in the body are harmful.

Judaism:

Believes in the sanctity of life Balance between God and medicine Observance of the Sabbath important Treatments sometimes refused on the Sabbath

Visiting the sick is an obligation. There is an obligation to seek care, exercise, sleep, eat well, and avoid drug and alcohol abuse. Euthanasia is forbidden. Life support is discouraged.

Jews believe that it is important to stay healthy. They expect the nurse to provide competent health care. Allow patients to express their feelings. Allow family to stay with dying patient.

Followers use prayer, faith healing. They appreciate visits from clergy. Some use laying on of hands. Holy Communion is sometimes practiced. Anointing of the sick is given when patient is ill or near death (Catholic).

Christians are usually in favor of organ donation. Health is important to maintain. Allow time for patients to pray by themselves, with family or friends.

Appalachians:

External locus of control Nature controls life and health Accept folk healers Good Christian members of community are called as servants to minister to disabled

They dislike hospitals. They tend not to follow medical regimens but expect to be helped directly when seeking episodic treatment.

They become anxious in unfamiliar settings. Encourage communication with family and friends when ill.

What nursing diagnosis may be considered for a client experiencing spiritual health issues?

 Anxiety

 Ineffective coping

 Fear

 Complicated grieving

 Hopelessness

 Powerlessness

 Readiness for enhanced spiritual well-being

 Spiritual distress

 Risk for spiritual distress

In what ways can the nurse promote spiritual health as a component of overall wellness during health promotion, acute care, and restorative/continuing care?

 Health promotion

 Establishing presence

involves giving attention, answering questions, having an encouraging attitude, and expressing a sense of trust; being with rather than doing for

 Supportive healing relationship

 Mobilize hope.

 Provide interpretation of suffering that is acceptable to patient.  Help patient use resources.